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April 22, 1360
Tear Mr. Gates:
In Acting Chairman Floberg's Ausust 29, 1959 letter to Secretary
McElroy and in your October 22, 1959 letter to me the AEC and DoD
established agreement that the Eniwetok Proving Ground (EFC) activity
could be reduced in scope to a l2-month readiness status.
course, has since deen accomplished.
That, of
Because the likelihood of resuming surface nuclear testing at EPG
in the future is so small, Chief, DASA, Commander, JTF-7 and the
~Lrector of :ilitary Application, a2=C, last month appointed a Joint
Study Groun to reappraise reauirements for EFG, and readiness status
and functions of JTP-7. The report of that Joint Study Group, short
title RETO, vrepared on March 31, 1960, concluced, in vart, that the
aPG should be placed in a caretaker status. 1 concur in that
conclusion and would like to imolement it as soon as practicable in
order to further reduce AEC costs at mF,
in the comin- months we maz find that the AEC programmatic need
for the Era will disapovar completely. If the Department of
Cefense has requirements for retaining imiwetok and Bixini Atolls,
it would be economically advantageous to arrange a non-reimbursable
interdepartmental transfer of the plant facilities and the equivment
out there before the AEC puts the Proving Ground in caretaker
status. Otherwise, when the equipment and supplies now stored at
RPG are declared excess, probably several million dollars worth
will be disposed of -- equinment whicn might handily fulfill vossible
ac
DoD requirements in the EFo.
Therefore, I would appreciate knowing by May 15 of your interest in
acquiring the #PG for oossible DeD use. Additionally if the DoD
has no requirement for the EPG, your concurrence is requested in
removing a specified degree of readiness for test resumption there,
COMP rur> TO BE UNCLASSIS IED
AUTHORITY: DOB/SA-20
BY R.S. DEWEY, DATE:
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